Resurrection Encounters: Part I Fear Factor: April 15, 2007. John 20: 19-23 CBC
When it comes to television, the only thing that is must see tv to me is some type of ballgame be it basketball, baseball, etc. Yet as I read the paper and listen on the radio they will run down the top shows on television for the week. And usually without a doubt the show that is always on the top of the charts is a show called Fear Factor. Have you seen it? People confronting fearful stunts and activities trying to win money. Whether it is getting in a box with large spiders or trying to get flags off a car suspended hundreds of feet off the air, it challenges people to confront their fears.
Well, all of us have some sort of fear. Some people have:
Brontophobia which is the fear of thunderstorms
Claustrophobia is the fear of being trapped in a small confined space.
This morning there are some who are dealing with another strong type of fear. It is called Homilophobia and it is the fear of sermons.
Being in public with Chris phobia: Chrysta has this fear because she is fearful that I am going to do something dumb in public which usually happens whether it’s falling down steps or acting weird.
Well today, understanding that we all have fears, I want to share with you how we can make fear be a non factor in our lives. I want to begin a series entitled Resurrection Encounters in which over the next several weeks we will discover the life changing encounters that Jesus had with individuals. And it is my hope that through these life changing encounters we will have a life changing encounter with Christ.
For because of that empty tomb, Jesus is alive and we have nothing to fear because he has promised to be with us now and always. And so today I want to encourage all of us to not let fear be a factor in our lives by trusting and accepting what Jesus wants to give us. And there are 5 things Jesus wants to give us to help get fear out and courage in
I. Jesus Comes To Us (verse 19)
Now we pick up our story from last week and remember I said that in this period between the Resurrection and Ascension, over 500 people had a life changing encounter with jesus. John 20:19-23 describes one of those encounters. The setting is that the disciples the group of badly frightened men have gathered together on the day that Jesus has been found to not be in the tomb. And they are huddled together behind locked doors fearful of what is going to happen to them now that Jesus is missing from the tomb. It is night on the day that Jesus arose and the disciples that little group of threatened and badly frightened men are huddled together behind locked doors. Now we know that two disciples were missing. First is Judas who has killed himself and the other is Thomas who verse 24 says was not with them on this occasion.
Why were they fearful? Well remember last week, they officials put guards, a 2 ton tomb and a seal afraid that the disciples would steal the body to make it look like he had risen. And so now that Jesus is missing, who do you think the officials are coming after? That’s right these disciples and so they have barricaded themselves into this room in great fear.
So here is how Jesus gives peace. He comes to us. You see all of a sudden with no warning at all, Jesus is standing in the midst of these disciples and saying Peace be with you. Jesus came to them to assure them. Now John makes it clear to us that the doors were locked bolted shut and that has not changed. I wonder what the first looks must have been by the disciples. Here was Jesus. He had done exactly what he had said. I wonder if they were afraid that Jesus was going to rebuke them for being cowards and running and hiding. But notice Jesus was not in that business. Rather he comes to him and instead of scolding them he blesses them
When Jesus stepped through those locked doors, he had one thing on his mind and that was to give them Peace. And that is what he wants to do with you and me today. He wants to remove fear from our lives and replace it with peace. To give us peace from our past. To remind us and the disciples that when we truly ask for forgivenenss that we receive a peace that passes all understanding. That Jesus form of peace comes in the form of a presence. Of a person that comes in to help us even when we are in a mess. Peace helps to take the past sins and remove them as far as the east is from the west.
But Jesus peace also helps with our current situation. When we are worried about something, Jesus steps through locked doors and says Here let me help with that. He encourages us to cast our worries upon him. For he cares for you.
The last thing Jesus wanted to see was his disciples hiding behind locked doors. And that is the last thing he wants to see with us. What we need to do is unlock the doors to our heart that allow the peace of Jesus to come into our lives.
But not only will Jesus come to us to remove fear, but Jesus also brings Assurance
2. Jesus Brings Assurance with Him.
When Jesus stepped into that room, he brought peace but did not leave it there. But he also assured them. Verse 20 shares with us that he showed them his hands and his side, he gave them the opportunity to discover that it was indeed their Master, and that He was not a phantom. He let them see and feel the broken body that had now been restored. This made it real for them. They had heard the stories from Mary and Peter and others and now the saw it upclose and personal.
Last week we had the opportunity to check out the facts and to discover that Christ is alive. And as you have heard and shared about what God is doing in your life, their should be not doubt that Jesus is alive. And if Jesus is alive then that should cause us to have the reaction that the disciples had. Verse 20 tells us that when they saw the Lord they were overjoyed. Jesus has assured us that he has come to give us life. He is here for us. Are we full of joy. Are we excited? I have said it and I will say it again. Christians should be the happiest people in the world. We should not be moping around or discouraged. Rather we should be overjoyed. We should have a joy that will never leave us. Isaish 25:9 speaks of how we should react towards our relationship with God:
“Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
But here me out, when jesus showed up through those locked doors to remove fear and to give courage through his peace and assurance, he did not do it just for those disciples. Rather he had other things in mind as well. And that leads us to the third thing:
3. Jesus Comes to Commission Us (verse 21)
In verse 21, Jesus calls all that are gathered into that room to a live a life of commission. Even after he had brought peace and assurances, Jesus saw that his disciples were still fearful and so he then commissions them. He shares that he has given his peace so that we might do his purposes. He encourages those in room and those in this room to be dedicated to going into this world and sharing the good news of Jesus. Jesus uses the word sent twice in this verse. The actual word sent means to be dispatched. It’s orders from on top that we have been dispatched to go out into the world. We have been given the assignment to take His place in this world. John 17:18 says “as you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”
Now here is the part of the story that some Christians don’t like. You see we have been saved so that we can be sent. We have received God’s blessings so that we can share God’s blessings. We have been touched by the Master’s Hands to tell others’ about the nail scarred hand. And friends, we cannot do that in a locked room. WE cannot do that in the wall of this building and we cannot be content to do it within the walls of our own home. The Gospel must go out and not stay within. While we need to bring people in, you and I need to be willing to get out. Someone once “Christianity doesn’t simply put out its sign and say ‘come.’ Christianity puts on its shoes and goes.”
But it seems that too many Christians have forgotten which closet they put their shoes in. They think that the shoes are too big for their feet. But friends what an awesome task has been given to us. We are to take Jesus place in this world. What a tremendous privilege and great responsibility that it. Paul puts it like this in 2 Corinthinas 5:18-20 “He has committed to us the message of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
And so it’s time that we become overjoyed about what God has done for us and go out and share it with others. It’s time that we take the initiative and get up and go out into the world just as jeus did.
You see there are people out there, you know them who have never read the Bible. Yet they look at you and watch you because they know that we are Christians. We might be the only Bible they ever read. What will it say? Will our Bibles show that we want to be just like Him and are ready willing and able to spread His Word?
4. Jesus will enable us.
Now we read what Jesus has commissione us to do and we say Golly, I can’t do that. I am just a regular person. Nothing ordinary, how can I possibly act like Christ. How can I possibly go into the world and share his love. Well regardless if you are from nash county, franklin county or yes even if you are like me and from Virginai, it does not matter because though we might feel overwhelmed by what Jesus is asking us to do, he does not leave us hanging.
He does not say Have at it Chris, good luck hope it all works for you. No, look at the powerful words of verse 22 as they speak to how Jesus will enable us to move from fear to courage.
Verse 22 says “And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘receive the Holy Spirit.’” You see you don’t have to do it alone, Jesus has it all taken care of he gives us the presence of the Holy Spirit to enable us to do the Jobt aht He has for us to do.
We have an assignment and we’ve been empowered to accomplish it. The Holy Spirit is not given just to keep us company, or to meet our needs.
Oh can you see why those disciples must have been so overjoyed. In spite of their many failure, Jesus was entrusting them to fulfill the mission. Jesus turned over the keys to the business to the very ones that had failed. He gave the power to those that had forsaken him and fled. Though they had once run away from him, now they were running to tell others about him. Yes even Peter, the one who had denied him three times and yet in just a few days Acts 3 records Peter priends the Word of God and leading thousands of people to salvation. How did they do it. How were they able to go out and share his name. It was through that life changing encounter when God went to each one and breathed on them.
That word breath to me is so powerful. It means spirit and the power of that word echoes throughout the O.T. This is exactly what happens when God comes and breathes on us. It happened in Geneses 2:7 and it is recorded that when God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life, the man became a living being.
Job records another example of God breathing. In Job 33:4 says “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Listen if you have given your life to Christ, you are not alone The Holy Spirit has been breathed into your life and is going to help you in so many ways. Here are just a few that is recorded in Scripture. You can write these down to read later
He gives us the words to say (Luke 12:11-12)
He convicts us, and our listeners of sin (John 16:8)
He converts a hard heart (John 6:44)
He sustains us in the difficult times (John 14:26-27)
He gives focus and substance to our prayers (Romans 8:26)
He gives us the abilities to do what He has called us to do (1 Corinthians 12:7)
He gives us Christ-like qualities (Galatians 5:22-23)
When the Holy Spirit is allowed room to work He will surprise us again and again by what He can do. We are not left alone! He has provided the help we need. I take great comfort in knowing that God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.
So Jesus comes to bring peace, to assure us, to commission us and to enable us.
Now imagine that you were on fear factor and they placed you in a tub full of creepy crawling spiders. And let’s say that you become fearful. What would happen if you let fear overcome you? You will be frozen. You will be gasping for breath. But turn that around and focus on controlling the situation and having faith that it will be over in 3 agonizing minutes then it will help you to have energy peace and hope and assurance.
Several years ago a submarine was being tested and had to remain submerged for many hours. When it returned to harbor, the captain was asked, “How did the terrible storm last night affect you?” The officer looked at him in surprise and exclaimed, “Storm? We didn’t even know there was one!” You see, the sub had been so far beneath the surface that it had reached the area known to sailors as “the cushion of the sea.” The ocean may be whipped into huge waves, but the waters below are never stirred.
Have you experienced the “cushion of the Savior”? The waves of worry and fear will not overcome you if we put our faith and trust in Christ.
What are you afraid of right now? What causes your heart to race and keeps you awake at night? My prayer is that you will not have faithphobia. Where you fear what faith will do for you. Exodus 14:13 says
Exodus 14:13: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.” Are you ready to remove that fear from your lives. Well friends Jesus has risen to help take that fear from our lives and replace it confidence in our living Christ taking care of us. It’s time to open those locked doors for Jesus is ready to come to us, to assure us, to commission us, and to enable us. The only thing is are we ready to let him do it. If so then don’t delay and respond to him today. Let’s pray.
